Tyson Fury Seeks Fight with Anthony Joshua After Upcoming Bout with Arslanbek Makhmudov

Tyson Fury is scheduled to face Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. This bout marks Fury's return to the ring after 16 months, following his retirement announcement, and represents his first fight since December 2024. Fury, aged 37, has come out of retirement for the fifth time.

Fury has expressed interest in fighting Anthony Joshua next to resolve their long-standing rivalry. Previous negotiations for the matchup have failed multiple times over the past 10 years. The prospect of a 2026 fight diminished after Joshua's involvement in a fatal car crash in Nigeria in December, which resulted in the deaths of his friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.

Rivalry Joshua has resumed training since the incident and attended Deontay Wilder's split-decision victory over Dereck Chisora in London on Saturday.

Discussions have emerged about a potential Wilder-Joshua fight, but Fury emphasized the need to arrange the Joshua bout soon. He noted that intervening fights, knockouts, or injuries have repeatedly delayed the matchup. >"This fight was supposed to happen so many times over the last 10 years, but then someone has had one more fight in between and someone has got knocked out or injured," Fury said.

" Fury stated that heavyweight boxing involves risks, with no guaranteed outcomes, and that a single loss can end a fighter's momentum. He aims to schedule the fight with Joshua before the end of the year, after his bout with Makhmudov. Fury mentioned being out of the ring longer than Joshua and expressed confidence in the matchup.

It remains unclear if Joshua will attend Fury's fight on Saturday.

Fury commented that attendance is a personal decision, particularly in the context of business. He added that individuals prioritize their own interests. Fury's father, John Fury, may also be absent, as the two are no longer on speaking terms.

John Fury urged his son to retire last month, citing concerns over his condition after the trilogy of fights against Wilder. Tyson Fury dismissed the comments, stating he has not paid close attention and views them as entitled opinions that may change. The heavyweight division continues to feature high-profile rivalries, with Fury and Joshua as prominent British figures.

Outcomes of Saturday's event could influence future scheduling. Promoters and fighters must navigate injuries and other setbacks common in the sport.